Senior UAV Design Engineer

Livelink Technology Ltd; Havant; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

LiveLink Aerospace in Havant is seeking a Senior UAV Design Engineer to own the lifecycle of UAV systems from concept to low-volume production. You will blend mechanical design with hands-on hardware integration in a fast-paced environment.

The role requires 4–5 years in UAV work, strong CAD skills (Fusion 360), and hands-on prototyping plus familiarity with Betaflight and ArduCopter firmware. UK SC clearance is highly desirable.

Qualifications

• 4 to 5 years of dedicated UAV experience.
• UK Security Clearance (SC) is required or achievable.
• Proficiency with Fusion 360 and CAD drawings.
• Experience with rapid prototyping and manufacturing methods.

Responsibilities

• Mechanical & structural design of UAV airframes and assemblies using Fusion 360.
• Select UAV components including propulsion, motors, ESCs, batteries, telemetry, sensors, and flight controllers.
• Prototype design and testing using 3D printing, sheet metal, laser CNC.
• Produce BOMs, assembly drawings, and build instructions for production teams.
• Integrate electronics, configure Betaflight and ArduCopter firmware; field test and validate.
• Collaborate with RF and software engineers; support transition to low-volume production.
• Coordinate with external vendors for prototype fabrication and small-batch runs.
• Coach and line-manage a small engineering team.

Skills

Mechanical design

System integration

Electronics assembly

Soldering

Tools

Fusion 360

3D printing

Sheet metal fabrication

Laser CNC

Betaflight

ArduCopter

Job description

Senior UAV Design Engineer

Application Deadline: 1 December 2026

Department: Hardware

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Havant

Compensation: £60,000 - £70,000 / year

Description

LiveLink Aerospace is seeking a skilled and passionate Senior UAV Design Engineer with 4 to 5 years of dedicated experience in the unmanned aerial vehicle field. In this role, you will own the lifecycle of our UAV systems - from initial concept and prototyping through to integration, validation, and low-volume production.

You will blend cutting-edge mechanical design with hands-on hardware integration, working in a fast-paced environment to build, test, and refine the next generation of aerospace technology.

Important Requirements:

Security Clearance: Due to the nature of our projects and the sensitive data we handle, candidates must be able to obtain and maintain UK Security Clearance (SC). This typically requires having lived in the UK for the last 5 years and holding a valid passport.

Key Responsibilities

• Mechanical & Structural Design: Design high-performance UAV airframes, payload structures, and mechanical assemblies using Fusion 360. Develop detailed CAD models and production-ready technical drawings.
• Component Specification: Select and specify optimal UAV components, including propulsion systems, motors, ESCs, batteries, telemetry modules, sensors, and flight controllers.
• Rapid Prototyping: Design and rapidly iterate prototypes utilising 3D printing, sheet metal, laser CNC, and other advanced manufacturing methods to optimise performance and manufacturability.
• Manufacturing & Documentation: Produce comprehensive assembly drawings, Bills of Materials (BOMs), and detailed build instructions to ensure seamless knowledge transfer and traceability for production teams.
• Systems Integration & Testing: Perform hands-on integration, wiring, and soldering of electronics. Configure, tune, and troubleshoot flight stacks running Betaflight and ArduCopter firmware.
• Field Operations & Validation: Conduct field testing and flight validation. Debug UAV performance issues under real-world conditions, identifying root causes to drive iterative design improvements.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with RF and software engineers to ensure hardware accommodates system requirements, and collaborate with production teams to transition prototypes into scalable, low-volume manufacturing workflows.
• Vendor Management: Coordinate with external suppliers and manufacturers for prototype fabrication and low-volume production runs.
• Line Management Responsibilities:Coach and line manage a small team providing them with tasking, holding stand ups and guidance when required.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Technical Design & Manufacturing:

• Advanced proficiency in parametric CAD (Fusion 360) and technical drawing creation.
• Deep understanding of UAV architecture, system integration, and weight/balance optimization.
• Hands-on experience with additive manufacturing (3D printing), sheet metal design/fabrication, laser cutting, and CNC bending machinery.
• Strong practical skills in electronics assembly, routing, and precision soldering.
  
  

Flight Systems & Testing:

• Proven experience configuring and tuning ArduCopter and Betaflight flight stacks.
• Excellent field troubleshooting, debugging, and data-logging analysis skills.
• GVC (General Visual Line of Sight Certificate) certification for operating multirotor and fixed-wing UAV platforms is highly desirable.
  
  

Professional Attributes:

• A proactive problem-solver who thrives in rapid development cycles.
• Strong collaborative communication skills for working alongside multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Excellent organisational skills for managing BOMs, suppliers, and technical documentation.